Radiator-cap lock



Mar. 6, 1923.

C. NKWHITE.

RADIATOR CAP LOCK. mep FEB. 24, 1921 raamt me, ias.,

man ,r

:Toa-car Leen.

i Application filed February 24, 1921. Serial No. 447,603.

To mll'fwhom t may concern: Y

Be it lmown. that 1, CALVIN NonMAN `ltrrrrn, a citizen of the United States, re-

sidin at Maricopa, inthe county of Kern and tate of California, have invented a new and useful Radiator-CapiI Lock, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is toV provide av simple and effective meansV for locking a radiator cap so that it cannot be removed from a radiator except by a person knowing the unlocking combination; and the-purpose of this lock is to prevent thieves from steal ing the radiator cap and its attachments. 1t is common practlce now in automobile construction. to provide radiator caps with attachments such as ornamental figures, or a thermometer for indicating temperature of the radiator; and these attachments 'are rovided with threaded stems extending downward through the top of the radiator caps and are secured to said caps by nuts that are full enclosed and not accessible for removal until the radiator cap is removed; so that by locking the radiator cap in place both it and its attachments are secured against theft.

@ther objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention. Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a radiator cap provided with this invention and attached to a radiator inlet pipe, showing parts in locked position.

Fig. 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showing parts in unlocked position.

Fig.- 3 is a plan in section, on line w, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is aplanin section on line 'm4, Fig. 2. y

Fig. 5 is a grouped plan and edge elevation of the stop d1sk.

Fig. 6.is a grouped plan and edge elevation of the upper liftin wedge. Fig. 7 is a grouped p an and edge elevation of the lower lifting wedge.'

Fig. 8 is a central section through the lock housing detached from the other parts.

Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic fragmental views of the lock. 1n various stages of operation for disengaging the plunger from the radiator locking lug.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental sectional view 'of a modified form ofradiator cap, the locking means however, being substantially the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 12.

The radiator 1, ati-portion 'of which is 60 fragmentally shown, 1s provided with an inlet pipe 2 that has either anvinternal or external thread as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 13, and normally closed by -a radiatorcap 3 threaded-thereto.. l. f An attachment 4 that can be any ornamentation or useful appliance as the thermometer shown has a hub 5 from which extends the stem 6 with a reduced threaded end 7 that is fitted through a Vcentral open- 70 ing 8 in cap 3; and is secured thereto by nut 9 and set screw 10.

Before attachment 4 is secured to cap 3 the locking parts are assembled as follows:

lock housing 11, stop disk 12 and upper and 75 lower wedges 13, 14 are mounted on stem 6.

Then with the face 15 of plunger 16 abutting f the rim of wedge 14 the plunger 16 is extended into well 17 enclosed by housing 18 of cap 3; and the reduced threaded end .74 e0 .of stem 6 is extended through'hole 8 and the parts secured together as heretofore described.

The housing 18 is provided with a ledge 19 on which the shoulder 20 of plunger 16 a5 normally rests when in locked position.

Pipe 2 is provided with an inwardly extending lug v21 that is adapted to intercept the reduced lower end 22 of plunger 16 to prevent unscrewing when the radiator te cap is screwed into place on pipe 2 and the plunger 16 is released from wedges 13, 14 and drops by gravity into locking `position with lug 21; that is interception of plunger 16 by lug 21 when cap 3 is turned in the 95 attempt of a thief to remove it, will prevent removal of the cap until the combination of thelockis set and wedges actuated to lift the plunger.

Plunger 16 is lifted. and held out of en- 100 gaging position with lug 21 by means of the wedges 13, 14 which when in predetermined position hold the plunger elevated so that cap 3 can be either screwed on or 0E of 'ipe 2. To lock cap 3 in lace after it is screwe l on 105 pipe 2 plunger 16 1s disengaged from lifting wedges 13, 14 and falls by gravity as-heretofore said 'into locking engagement with lug 21 so that the Capt?, and attached parts can not be removed until the plunger is again 11e lifted by means of the wedges. Liftlng wedges 13, 14 and also stop disk 12 are 4actuated 'by the indicator lock housing 1l which has integrally attached thereto. a finger 23 that extends downward through concentric slot 24'in disk 12 into position to engage faces 25, 26 of wedge 13 and faces 2 7, 28 ofwedge 14 by which these wedges are turned on thestem 6 either into po.- sition to lift plunger' 16 or dislodge it from the wedges.

v Lock housing 11 is provided with indicating numerals 29 that correspond in number to letters 30 on cap 3; and' Whencertaip predetermined numerals are moved into registering positionwith certain predetermined. letters the disk 12 will be moved to a. posi- 4tion whereby lifting wedges 13, 14 can bev actuated to lift plunger 16 to disengagestopl or lug 21.

It is understood of course that each lock will have a different combination', thatwill require an alteration in position of the various parts functioning in the locking cornbination which parts consist of linger 23,

.connection slot 24, opening 31 `in disk 12,

plunger 16, and faces '25, 26, 2 7, 28 of wedges 13, 14 all of which can occupy al multitude of positions around the axis of Stem 6; I

The combination herein provided for liftingV plunger 16 out of engagement with lug 21 consists of the followmg movements of lock housing 11. As seen by dotted lines in Fig. 3 finger 23 is within the angle formed by Figures'6, 7 and axis' of stem 6, so that when the housing 11 is turned to theright to a position where 6, 7 register with f, g, it is known that lower wedge 14 has contacted with the rounded upper lip 32 of plunger 16 and lifted the plunger one step 1n the unlocking movement. A further.

movement of the wedges is impossible owing to the positionof disk 12 which obstructs a further lupward movement of the.plungerf 16 suiiicient to clear stop 21 until this disk 12 is turned backward or in the .opposite direction b finger 23 until opening 31'i`n disk 12 is 1n axial alinement with the axis of plunger 16'; conse uently housing 11 mustbe turned 'or rotate toA the left .until numeralsregister with letters Z,'m, which moves dis 12 so that the opening 31 is `in the desired position. lThen fin er 23 is turned again to the right until 6, with e, f step .in an unlocking movement; and when 'plunger 16 is supported on wedge 13 cap 3 registers 'at which time wedge 13 is actuated to lift plunger 16 the second and last can be unscrewed from nipple 2 asplunger c2 the housing 11 is 16 is lifted high enough to I niss lug 23 as capvlis screwed-on or -ofi' of pipe 2.

en cap 3 is replaced on nipple or pipe turned to discharge plunger 16 fromwed'ges 13, 14 afterwhich it willy fall by gravity into locking position.I with lug 21.

' tion' ofwedge 13.

, Theforegoing movementq of parts for lifting -plun r 16 is diagrammatically il1us,

1'4'; .also showing disk 12in position to'prej 'vent wed e 13 from lifting plunger I16 a suliicient stance todisengagelug A21. Fig. 11 shows disk 12. moved to a osition where the center of. opening 31 registers with the axis *of plunger 16 making possible the'final lifting movement ofplunger 16 by actua- While this' combination lockhas been described las 'especially adapted to securing automobile caps against theft it is not' intended to be limited to that purpose as -it is .equally adaptable toother uses. a

claim. i 1. In a radiator cap lock, a` pipe attached to a radiator, a stop within said pipe, a'cap for closing. said pipe, a plunger in said 'cap for engaging said stop and provided with a lip; and means forengaging said lip to move said plunger out. of engagement with said stop. L 2. In a radiator -cap lock,'a pipe attached to a radiator, a stop in said plpe, a cap. for closing said pipe, engaging said stop, an indicator' housing pivotall connected rto said cap, and means actuate by said indicator .housing for moving said plunger out of 'engagement with said stop. 3. In a radiator cap lock, apipeattached to a radiator, a stop 11i said pipefa cap for closing said ipe, a plunger in said cap for engaging sai stop,and wedges for moving said plunger out of engagement with said .st/op. 1 4. In a radiator cap to a radiator, a stop. in said plpe, a cap for closing saidA ipe,.a.plunger in said `cap for engaging sai stop, wedgesfor moving said plungers out of engagement with said stop, and an indicator housing on `said'cap for actuating said wedges. Y

a plunger in said cap forY tached to a radiator, a stop in said nipple, a cap for closing said nipple, a plunger in sald cap for engaging said sto wedges .for moving said plunger out of en ,said stop, indicator stem for actuating said wedges to move said plunger. j

6. n a radiator cap lock, a nipple attached to a radiator,"a stopin said nipple, a

cap for closing said sa1d cap for' engaging a stem secured to said cap, and an said stop', wedges for agement with nipple, a plunger inv housing pivotally connected to said ist 11o lock, afpipe attached 'moving said plunger out of engagement Ithreaded end, a lug Within said pipe, a cap adapted to screw on and close said pipe, va. plunger carried by said cap for engaging i said lug after the cap has been placed on said pipe, a housingv rotatably connected to said cap, and means operated by rotation of said housing for holding said plunger out of en-.

gagement with said lug While said cap is being screwed'on or oli of said pipe.

8. In a radiator cap lock, a pipe attached to a radiator said pipe having an open threaded end, a lug in said pipe, a threaded cap adapted to close said pipe, a plunger carried by said cap for engaging said lug after the caphas been placed on said pipe, a lip on said plunger, Wedges for engaging said lip to lift said plunger out of engagement with said lug, and an indica-tor housing for actuating said Wedges.

9. In a radiator cap lock, a pipe attached to a radiator said pipe having an open threaded end, a lug in said pipe, a threaded cap adapted to close said pipe, a plunger carried'by said cap for engaging said lug after the cap has been placed onsaid pipe, upper and lower Wedges for imparting a first andsecond lifting movementto said plunger, a disk opposing theolifting movement of the upper Wedge, and means for moving said disk 'into position Where it Will not oppose the lifting movement of the upper wedge.

.10. In a radiator cap lock, an inlet pipe attached to a radiator and having a threaded open end; a lug in said pipe; a cap adapted to screw on and close said pipe; a keyless -lock comprising a plunger having a lip; and wedges adapted to engage said lip; said plunger being adapted to lock and unlock said cap by engagement with and disengagement from said lug.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 15th day of February, 1921.

GAL-VIN NoRMAN WHITE.

Witness:

JAMES R. ToWNsEND. 

